CASTALIAN SPRINGS, Tenn. -- Police in Sumner County arrested a husband Friday night after they said he fatally shot his estranged wife, who had left him earlier in the week.

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William Shatswell was taken into police custody and charged with killing his 46-year-old wife, Laura.

Her family said they feel Laura Shatswell's life could have been saved if authorities would have taken action sooner.

The homicide unfolded in front of the woman's daughter and grandchildren outside their home on Corum Hill Road in Castalian Springs.

Laura Shatswell's son-in-law said she was on the phone with a 911 dispatcher inside his home when Laura Shatswell's husband showed up Friday night with a gun.

"He just come over and said he wanted to talk to her and drop some clothes off," said Isaac McMillan. "I walked around side of the house and was going to let them talk, and he just started shooting. He shot her four times, stood over her and shot four more."

Laura Shatswell's grandchildren were trembling inside, said McMillan.

"I was in the house. I had my kids in the closet because I was scared he was going to try to come kill us," McMillan said.

He called 911, as did the accused shooter. According to Sumner County Sheriff Bob Barker, William Shatswell -- also known as Bill -- confessed to a dispatcher he had just shot his wife. But before William Shatswell got to the home on Corum Hill Road in Castalian Springs, his brothers had him locked up at his house off Bushs Lane in Gallatin.

The sheriff said his brothers feared if he got out, he might hurt Laura Shatswell. Sometime before 10 p.m. Friday, the sheriff said, William Shatswell escaped by climbing out a window, drove to Castalian Springs and shot his wife.

Authorities arrested William Shatswell on the spot.

Laura Shatswell had left her husband and gone to stay with her daughter and son-in-law earlier in the week but didn't have any of her clothes.

"She called Sumner County on Wednesday to see if they would escort her to her house to get her clothes out because she was scared and didn't want to go up there by herself. They wouldn't go up there with her. They said it was a civil matter and they couldn't do nothing about it," said McMillan.

"I think if they would have just gone up there with her and let her get her clothes, none of this would have happened," said McMillan.

Channel 4 asked Barker why deputies could not escort Laura Shatswell back home to get her clothing.

Barker said they cannot enter a home to help divide and sort out property without a court order. Barker also said had deputies entered that home with William Shatswell having a weapon, the whole situation could have possible ended worse.

The couple had been married for 27 years.

William Shatswell, who has no criminal history, was charged with felony murder and is being held without bond. He is scheduled to appear April 14 in Sumner County General Sessions Court.